37 Elite Local Drivers Added to UPS “Circle of Honor”

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 37 elite drivers from North Carolina are among 692 nationwide newly inducted into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.

North Carolina boasts 179 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 5,104 years of accident-free driving. Bobby Davis of Kinston and Delano Lucas of Fayetteville are North Carolina’s senior safe drivers, with 37 years each of accident-free driving.

Nationwide, 4,582 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 129,632 years and more than 5 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of 10,000 trips to the moon and back.

“UPS puts a premium on safe driving methods and training and these drivers reflect that commitment,” said Rocco Romanella, president, UPS Southeast Region. “I’m very proud of these drivers. To go at least a quarter of a century without an accident is a testament to how seriously our drivers, and trainers, take safety.”

Nationally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS’s Kentucky District, with 46 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Michigan District is next in line with 45 years of safe driving. Eight others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.

UPS’s 112,450 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 2.5 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven. There are 3,098 total UPS drivers in North Carolina.

UPS has invested approximately $53 million in 2008 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called “Space and Visibility.” New UPS tractor-trailer drivers receive 80 hours of classroom and on-the-road training, and UPS delivery truck drivers receive 20 hours of classroom and on-the-road defensive driving training before operating equipment. Delivery drivers also are required to complete three safety ride evaluations during their first 22 days on the job.

Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established the Circle of Honor in 1955.

More information on UPS’s commitment to safety is available at www.pressroom.ups/safety.

Following is a list of drivers in North Carolina inducted this year into the Circle of Honor with 25 years of safe driving.

Work Center		Driver		Residence
Rock Hill Center		Harold Anders		Charlotte, NC
Greensboro Hub		David Antczak		Greensboro, NC
Charlotte Hub		Fred Baker		Waxhaw, NC
Greensboro Hub		David Blake		Trinity, NC
Asheville		Emery Burnette		Asheville, NC
Franklin Center		Billy Cable		Almond, NC
Greensboro Hub		Marshall Chambers III		Greensboro, NC
Raleigh		Kennett Chandler		Raleigh, NC
Charlotte Hub		Richard Cloninger		Dallas, NC
Sylva		Douglas Connor		Tuckasegee, NC
Monroe		Robert Cox III		Matthews, NC
Greensboro Hub		Thomas Hope Jr		Greensboro, NC
Winston Salem Building		James Houser		Conover, NC
Winston Salem Building		Kimberly Johnson		Clemmons, NC
Greensboro Hub		Donna Kearns		Archdale, NC
Lenoir		Terrell Kiser		Icard, NC
Greensboro Hub		Thomas Lewis		Whitsett, NC
Rock Hill Center		Earl Long Jr		Gastonia, NC
Raleigh		Melvin McMillan		Raleigh, NC
Winston Salem Building		Wayne Mitchell		Walkertown, NC
Raleigh		Melvin Mitchell		Raleigh, NC
Winston Salem Building		Christopher Plemmons		Clemmons, NC
Kannapolis		Gerald Quay		Harrisburg, NC
Durham Center		John Sanders		Durham, NC
High Point		Bruce Talley		High Point, NC
Raleigh		Robert Talley		Raleigh, NC
Raleigh		John Terry		Bullock, NC
Winston Salem Building		Jerry Whittington		Lexington, NC
Raleigh		Larry Wilkins		Garner, NC
Greensboro Hub		John Yeattes III		Greensboro, NC
Southern Pines		Charles Caddell Jr		Whispering Pines, NC
Southern Pines		William Houston		Fayetteville, NC
Greenville Center		Mickey Lang		Greenville, NC
Raleigh		William Lawhorn		Hampstead, NC
Goldsboro Center		Franklin Lee		Kinston, NC
Southern Pines		Gary Moss		Carthage, NC
Maspeth, NY		Anthony Lockamy		Goldsboro, NC

UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services. With more than a century of experience in transportation and logistics, UPS is a leading global trade expert equipped with a broad portfolio of solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.